What Does Unlimited Data on T-Mobile Really Mean?

This morning, T-Mobile announced a new 79.99 all-inclusive plan with unlimited calling, texting and data. However, there's a big asterisk over that word 'data": once users reach 2GB, they can expect their data rates to be slowed. How slowed? We don't know yet.

T-Mobile maintains that the majority of their customers only use around 1 GB of data a month, but when a company uses the word "unlimited" they should mean it.

Still, the new plan looks pretty great. Full press release below:

T-Mobile Introduces New Unlimited Data, Calling and Texting Plan for Only $79.99 Per Month New lower-priced unlimited plan with no overage charges makes wireless more affordable to more people on America’s Largest 4G Network

BELLEVUE, Wash. – April 13, 2011 – T-Mobile USA, Inc. today announced that a new, single-line unlimited plan is available for just $79.99 per month, with an Even More™ plan and a two-year contract. The new plan offers great value for new and existing customers with unlimited nationwide calling, texting and data - with no overage charges - on America’s Largest 4G Network™.

"Consumers today are looking for even more value and flexibility from their wireless plans," said John Clelland, senior vice president, marketing, T-Mobile USA. "While data plans for many of our competitors continue to be very expensive, T-Mobile is lowering the price of our unlimited plan and offering more options, making it easier than ever for customers to step up to a richer mobile data experience on our 4G network."

Combined with an extensive lineup of affordable smartphones, T-Mobile’s new Even More unlimited plan allows customers to save more than $350 per year on an unlimited smartphone plan, compared to similar plans from AT&T, Verizon and Sprint1. Additionally, T-Mobile customers continue to receive high-quality 4G experiences where they live, work, and play - America’s Largest 4G Network™ now reaches 167 markets and more than 200 million people nationwide.

In contrast to some competing offerings, T-Mobile’s new Even More unlimited plan enables customers to use mobile data on their smartphones without incurring any overage charges. Consumers exceeding 2GB of usage in a billing month will still have access to unlimited data at reduced speeds until their new billing cycle starts. On average, T-Mobile 4G smartphone customers consume about 1GB of data per billing month.

In addition to its unlimited plans, T-Mobile continues to offer one of the industry’s most affordable entry-level data plans, starting at just $10 for 200 MB per billing month. The company also strives to help customers on these data plans avoid surprise bills with SMS alerts when they are reaching their data limit.

The new $79.99 Even More unlimited plan is available now for qualifying customers. To find the T-Mobile plan that best fits their needs, customers can visit http://www.t-mobile.com.

T-Mobile’s HSPA+ 4G network not available everywhere. See coverage details at T-Mobile.com.

1 Based on comparison against comparable post-paid plans for smartphones from AT&T, Verizon and Sprint; does not include taxes and fees or cost of phone. Plan features and limitations may vary. Data as of March 2011.

Steven Blum has written more than 2,000 blog posts as a founding member of AndroidPIT's English editorial team. A graduate of the University of Washington, Steven Blum also studied Journalism at George Washington University in Washington D.C. for two years. Since then, his writing has appeared in The Stranger, The Seattle P-I, Blackbook Magazine and Venture Villlage. He loves the HTC One and hopes the company behind it still exists in a few years.